Police have identified the victims of this morning's double homicide as Tameka Morris, 27, of Kalamazoo, and Corey Darnell Johnson, 29, of Kalamazoo.
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Pictured left: Christopher L. White. White is the suspect in a double homicide from the early morning hours of 12/16/09 in Interfaith. He is originally from Chicago, but has family in Kalamazoo. Any information please contact Silent Observer 343-2100 or Kalamazoo Public Safety 337-8994UPDATE:KALAMAZOO -- Police have identified the victims of this morning's double homicide as Tamika Morris, 27, of Kalamazoo, and Corey Darnell Johnson, 29, of Kalamazoo.
Morris and Johnson lived together in the apartment at Interfaith Homes where they were shot at 2:55 a.m. today, Detective Lt. Victor Ledbetter said at a brief press conference this afternoon.
Their 9-year-old daughter, who was home at the time, was not harmed, Ledbetter said.
The girl is now staying with relatives.
Police are continuing to search for a Chicago man, 30-year-old Christopher L. White, whom they have identified as a suspect.
Ledbetter said White was an acquaintance of the couple.
White is considered armed and dangerous, according a press release from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
White recently moved to Kalamazoo from Chicago, police said.
Police have not confirmed a motive in the shooting, Ledbetter said.
EARLIER (2:15 p.m.):
KALAMAZOO — A Chicago man has been identified by police as the suspect in the fatal shootings of a man and woman early Wednesday at a Kalamazoo apartment complex.
Christopher L. White, 30, is still being sought by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety investigators, Assistant Chief Brian Uridge said.
Uridge said White was an acquaintance of a 27-year-old woman and 29-year-old man who were killed in a 2:55 a.m. shooting at Interfaith Homes, off Woodward Avenue.
Police believe they know the motive for the double slaying, but Uridge declined to release any details Wednesday afternoon.
The names of the two victims have not been released.
Police are expected to release more details at a 3 p.m. press conference at Public Safety’s Crosstown Parkway headquarters.
EARLIER (12:01 p.m.):
KALAMAZOO — Police searched a recreational trailer on the city’s north side Wednesday as they continued trying to track down a suspect in a double homicide at a Kalamazoo apartment complex.
Members of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety SWAT Team went into the Coachmen recreational vehicle in the 800 block of West North Street shortly after 11 a.m. The suspect was not found, Detective Lt. Victor Ledbetter said.
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Ledbetter said police plan to hold a press conference this afternoon about the double homicide and police’s search for the suspect.
The names of the two victims, who were shot, have not been released.
The search of the trailer came eight hours after Public Safety officers responded to an apartment at Interfaith Homes, off Woodward Avenue, on a report of a shooting.
At the scene, a 27-year-old woman was pronounced dead and a 29-year-old man found at the residence died later at Bronson Methodist Hospital.
Ledbetter said a 9-year-old girl who was in the apartment during the fatal shootings was not injured.
Ledbetter said police cordoned off the area on West North Street between Woodward and Cobb avenues after receiving information that the suspect in the double homicide was in the area.
He said prior to entering the trailer, police had found footprints in the snow leading up to it.
“We believe that he was in the area,” the lieutenant said. “We’ve got to go back and regroup.”
![SWAT officers and a K9 800 block of West North Street]()
Tyler Tjomsland | Kalamazoo GazetteSWAT officers and a K9 Unit take position outside a Coachmen recreational vehicle in the 800 block of West North Street before entering it on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 in Kalamazoo. Public Safety officers combed the block between Cob and Woodward to apprehend a possible suspect in the double homicide that occurred at Kalamazoo's Interfaith Homes.Ledbetter said police are “fairly certain” who the suspect in the shooting is, but declined Wednesday afternoon to identify him.
He did say the suspect is a black male who was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and an orange jacket or vest.
As their investigation continues, police are trying to pinpoint a motive for the shootings. Ledbetter said police also were continuing to search for the gun.
At the scene of the shooting Wednesday morning, Public Safety’s crime lab was combing a second-floor apartment in Building 1031.
The staircase leading up to the apartment was blocked by crime-scene tape early Wednesday.
Along with the crime-scene tape was red and silver garland and red Christmas lights that were still lit.
Police ask anyone with information about the shootings to call KDPS at (269) 337-8994 or contact Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
Contact Rex Hall Jr. at rhall@kalamazoogazette.com or (269) 388-7784.
![North Street Special Weapons And Tactics officer]()
A
Special Weapons And Tactics officer positions himself on the 800 block
of North Street in Kalamazoo and Public Safety officers comb the block
between Cob and Woodward to apprehend a possible suspect in the double
homicide that occurred at Kalamazoo's Interfaith Homes.
EARLIER (10:30 a.m.):KALAMAZOO -- Public Safety officers from the city of Kalamazoo have North Street between Woodward and Cobb avenues blocked off this morning.
The investigation is related to a double homicide this morning at Interfaith Homes, said Brian Uridge, assistant chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
Officers appeared to be focused on a house at the corner of North and Cobb.
View Larger Map
EARLIER (7:48 a.m.):
KALAMAZOO — A man and woman were shot to death early Wednesday at an apartment complex on the city’s north side, police said.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers found the 27-year-old woman and 29-year-old man after responding at 2:55 a.m. to a report of a shooting at a residence at Interfaith Homes in the 1000 block of Interfaith Boulevard, according to a news release.
The woman, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, whose name also has not been released, was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
No arrests had been made in the double homicide, as of early Wednesday.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call KDPS at (269) 337-8994 or contact Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100 or
www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.
Contact Rex Hall Jr. at
rhall@kalamazoogazette.com or (269) 388-7784.
The two suspects arrested in conjunction with the death of Brandon Silverlight have been identified as 24 year old Justin Andrew Terpstra (Left) and 23 year old Alison Lane Martin (Right), pictured here, both of Kalamazoo. Terpstra and Martin were both arraigned this (Tuesday, Dec. 08, 2009) afternoon in 57th District Court and charged with open murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
